How to make a display case for a chinchilla with your own hands at home

Before purchasing a fluffy and very active animal, you need to arrange a place for it to live. Like all rodents, chinchillas love to taste everything. An animal running freely around the house includes chewed furniture, baseboards, walls and electrical wires. This not only outrages the owners, but also poses a danger to the chinchilla itself.

There are commercially produced cages for chinchillas, but not all pet stores can buy them. In addition, a purchased cage provides only the minimum needs of the animal, and the owner usually wants his pet to be happy. You can make a custom cage for a chinchilla yourself.

Why a showcase?

The most suitable housing option for a rodent would be a display case. It must be completely closed, this is necessary for the animal to feel comfortable and protected. The main difference between this type of housing and a cage is the ability to use various types of materials when making it yourself.

Read also: How to make a mattress harder or softer?

The best material, of course, will be wood, since this material is environmentally friendly for the animal. But the material also has disadvantages: wood absorbs moisture and odors that come from the animal very well. In addition to this material, fiberboard, chipboard, and aluminum profiles are used. The aluminum profile option will be the most convenient and durable, but its cost will also be higher than other options.

Advantages of the showcase:

The area around the animal’s house will always be clean, as no debris will spill through the bars.
Cleaning is quick and easy.
There is much less noise from an animal that lives in a window.
The pet will not chew metal rods that are painted.
By making a contraction according to your own drawings, you can make the display case an element of the room’s design.
By screwing the wheels to the bottom of the display case, it can be easily moved from place to place.

This housing option is very convenient and this will become immediately clear as soon as the animal is moved into it.

Prevention and care of display cases

The manger, feeder and tray should be washed every day. If a litter tray is used for the toilet, it should be changed as soon as it gets dirty. The entire display case is cleaned at least once a week. Before this, the chinchilla is carefully taken out of the house. Subsequently, all items are removed from it. It is more convenient to remove debris with a vacuum cleaner. To wash a glass, you need to prepare a soda solution. Do not use a hard sponge, it will scratch. The floor is thoroughly cleaned and dried. The side walls are cleaned of dust with a damp cloth. The attributes are washed and dried, and only then are they put in place. It is recommended to disinfect your pet's home using a special product. You can buy it at your local pet store.

Sources

https://DomBai-26.ru/shinshilly/kak-sdelat-vitrinu-dlya.html
https://zverek.org/vitrina-dlya-shinshill.html
https://index-uliz.ru/shinshilla/vitrina-dlya-shinshilly-svoimi-rukami.html
https://vplate.ru/shinshilla/vitrina-svoimi-rukami/
https://mychinchilla.ru/soderzhanie-uhod/vitrina-dlja-shinshilly-svoimi-rukami.html
https://homjakam.ru/shinshilla/uhod-i-soderzhanie/vitrina-dlya-shinshilly
https://homkin.ru/shinshilly/uhod-za-shinshillami/vitrina-svoimi-rukami.html

Step-by-step manufacturing instructions

Showcase drawing To make a display case for a chinchilla yourself, you first need to draw up a drawing.
An interesting suitable option can be found on the Internet - when using, substitute your dimensions to see if you can make the model you like. If you do not have sufficient experience in construction work, it is better to take a simpler drawing, as in this photo: After all the measurements have been taken and transferred to the diagram, all drawings are made on paper on a reduced scale. At this stage it is important to carefully check that all dimensions are correct.

How to make it yourself?

If you do not have a suitable cabinet for retrofitting, you can make your own cabinet. To ensure the most comfortable working conditions, you will need to use:

using a screwdriver;
with self-tapping screws of various sizes;
with a jigsaw;
new door hinges;
with drill;
with drill/bag;
with sealing tape.

Since it is difficult to guess the dimensions, there are no ready-made drawings “for all occasions”. - you will have to make them yourself by measuring the allocated area of the room. Therefore, the appropriate amount of material is selected. This could be a rough sketch for a medium sized room.

Typically, supports are used as legs when the display floor is made of mesh and some clearance is needed between the mesh and the floor to allow a chinchilla waste collection container to be placed under the mesh.

In addition to simple shelves with holes, the chinchilla display case can be equipped with additional accessories. For example, a small house that can be easily made depending on the size of the storefront can serve as a shelter from daylight.

It should not be too big or too tight.

The feeder can be made in the form of a nursery made of wood or the same metal mesh into which hay or other food will need to be placed.

If a chinchilla is limited in physical activity, it will quickly gain weight. Therefore it is good to have a so-called city. It must consist of at least:

treadmill;
The shelves are on different levels and are connected by bridges, tunnels or stairs;
swing/hammock.

Popular cell types

Sand for its composition, special attention is paid to it, since the beauty of the fur skin depends on it. The animals perform hygienic procedures in sand, while the use of river sand, as well as quartz sand, is excluded. With sharp fragments, the material does not clean the fur, but spoils and cuts the hair.

Breeders began to use a composition made from volcanic dust. It provides excellent cleaning with good moisture absorption. It is believed that the animals behaved this way in their natural environment, and bathed in this substance.

You can check the quality of dust content in the package only after opening it; the color of the composition should be matte; any shine indicates foreign particles. If you rub them in your hands, there should be a trace left on them, like powder, when poured with liquid, the real dust will dissolve, and the heavy quartz will settle to the bottom of the container. Before arranging a swim, you need to resolve the issue of housing. Home cages are somewhat different from professional cages.

The following designs were included in the review, the most popular among breeders:

Houses connected with metal rods. Similar options are presented by sales representatives; they are easy to build yourself. The advantage of such buildings is their low cost and ease of installation.
Manufacturers, in general, completely supply all the necessary parts; it will not be difficult for the owner to assemble the elements and not worry about further arrangement.
Dwellings presented as a kind of showcase will be needed by those who decide to start a family of chinchillas. In this constructive space there are all the details necessary for future offspring. The material chosen is different, but suitable both for interior decoration, where wood is preferred, and for external structures made of metal elements.

A thrifty owner is not prohibited from starting construction on his own, using improvised products that have fallen out of use among household members. The best solution would be to first display the building plan on paper. The drawing will allow you to calculate all the necessary parts by size and quantity. A display-type dwelling can be built from old furniture; cabinets and chests of drawers are suitable for various configurations.

Homemade cage from old furniture

A lightweight option for making a display case at home can be to re-equip an unnecessary bookcase or kitchen cabinet. This will allow you to get by with a minimum set of materials and tools. Such a piece of furniture usually already has glass doors, so all that remains is to cut windows for ventilation and cover them with mesh, as well as make a division into floors. If the cabinet doors are solid, they are removed and replaced with glass ones; later, shelves can be cut out of wooden facades.

This is how you can convert an old cabinet into a display case

If the option with a display case does not suit you, you can make a cage with your own hands. To do this, we recommend reading the article “Do-it-yourself chinchilla cage.”

Features of creating a design

First of all, a do-it-yourself chinchilla display window should be at least eighty centimeters high.
Many also leave space below for food, nutritional supplements and a variety of toys. To do this, you will need a space of at least another thirty centimeters.
When creating a drawing of a future structure, special attention should be paid to the appearance. The house must fit completely into the existing interior.
You also need to clearly calculate the dimensions of the cabinet that will be located under the display case. The average size is considered to be one hundred and forty centimeters, taking into account the experience of other owners of such interesting animals.
Depth is also given a special place. It must be at least thirty centimeters. It will be convenient for the animal to run around in such a cage, and such dimensions fit quite well into the existing interior of an apartment or house.
If we talk about width, then in this case there are no special restrictions. The only condition is that the minimum must be thirty centimeters. If the cage is narrower, the chinchilla simply will not be able to stay in it.

Town

Chinchillas are animals prone to obesity, and they need active movement just like food and water. You can make chinchillas move by building them easy-to-climb routes in the “town.”

The town includes:

running wheel for chinchillas;
shelves fixed at different levels;
transitions between shelves.

The variety of transitions is limited only by the imagination and skill of the chinchilla owner.

It can be:

suspension bridges;
tunnels;
stairs;
swing.

The only requirement for all these products is natural wood without paint or varnish. You can make transitions from unsanded branches of edible tree species. And change it periodically.

The role of a transition, a toy and a place to rest is simultaneously performed by a hammock for a chinchilla suspended in a display case. It is made from dense non-stretch fabric. Denim suits well. They secure it so that the chinchilla can jump into the hammock, but cannot swing it too much.

In addition to shelves and passages, the town must have a running wheel and a treadmill. The wheels are sold in pet stores and are designed for all active small animals. You need to buy a wooden or plastic one, as a metal wheel can be dangerous for a chinchilla. But you can do it yourself.

DIY chinchilla wheel

To make a wheel you will need:

2 sheets of plywood with a side of at least 40 cm and a thickness of at least 1 cm;
up to 10 figured meter slats;
automobile tension bearing;
drill;
drill 12 mm;
self-tapping screws;
2 bolts with a diameter of 12 mm: long and short;
screwdriver;
washers for bolts;
nuts for bolts;
jigsaw

Manufacturing technology:

Find the middle in the pieces of plywood and drill holes. Using a jigsaw, cut out 2 circles of 30 cm in diameter.
One is left, another circle with a diameter of 25–27 cm is cut out of the other. Only a large circle will be needed from this circle.
The slats are cut into pieces about 15 cm long. The size of the slats depends on the chinchilla. The animal must fit freely into the wheel.
The cut slats are attached closely to the ends of the circle and the cut out circle.
Put a washer on the long bolt, insert the bolt from the inside into the wheel, put on another washer and screw the structure with a nut.
A hole for a bolt is drilled in the wall of the display case.
The center of the bearing is aligned with the hole in the wall and the bearing is screwed in with self-tapping screws.
The wheel with the bolt is inserted into the bearing and tightened with a nut from the outside of the display case.

The video shows in sufficient detail how to make a running wheel for chinchillas.

Treadmill

For chinchillas, this is an additional device, and it is easier to buy it in a store. There it can be sold as a treadmill for decorative hedgehogs. She looks like this.

Now the display case contains everything necessary for a happy life for chinchillas. All that remains is to figure out what a walking ball is.

Chinchilla ball

This is a device that a chinchilla should not have. The plastic ball transmits infrared rays very well and heats up from the inside. Chinchillas do not tolerate heat well. Half an hour in such a ball is enough for the animal to die.

In such a ball, some careless owners of small animals let them “walk” in the fresh air and eat the green grass that falls into the cracks of the ball. Juicy food is contraindicated for chinchillas. And the stress of a walk is much more harmful than being in a spacious display case.

How to set up a display case for a chinchilla

For the comfort of the animal, you should make sure that in the enclosure, in addition to the mandatory attributes - feeder, hay feeder (hay bowl), drinking bowl and toilet, there are items and accessories for its proper rest and wakefulness.

Holiday house . Its purpose is to seclude the animal from prying eyes. The house should be somewhat larger than a chinchilla. She can be in it, stretched out to her full height. The house is made of wood. It can also be purchased ready-made at a pet store.

Shelves . If your display case does not have a large area and it is impossible to install a house in it, then you should take care of arranging wooden shelves on which the pet will rest. They should be located low from the floor so that if the animal falls, it will not be injured.

Hammock . Chinchillas love hammocks. They use them for both relaxation and entertainment. Hammocks can be of different designs, single-tiered and multi-tiered, from different materials and fabrics. They can be purchased, but most often owners make them with their own hands. However, be prepared that rodents quite often damage hammocks with their teeth.

Toys . Like any creature, the chinchilla loves to play. Therefore, if the size of the display case allows it, you should take care of purchasing gaming complexes: tunnels, a running wheel, toys made of wood, branches, stumps.

Sand bath . As you know, chinchillas love to bathe in sand, so you will give your pet great pleasure if you find a place in the display case for a sand bath.

Video: how to set up a display case for a chinchilla Items that should also be in the cage include a mineral or salt stone - for grinding teeth.

Also find out how to choose and arrange a home for a guinea pig and a hamster, and why you need a walking ball for a hamster.

What structures cannot be used

Sometimes chinchilla owners, trying to save on the purchase of a specialized cage, keep their pets in structures that are completely unsuitable for this. Under no circumstances should you use the following as a home for chinchillas:

Small cages - furry cats need space to move freely.
Plastic containers and glass jars. Firstly, such structures are too cramped. Secondly, jars and containers do not allow air to pass through well, which is dangerous for the health and even the life of chinchillas.
Carrying. Such structures are intended only for short-term transportation of animals.

Some chinchilla owners manage to place fluffies even in large cardboard boxes. But a pet will literally chew such a flimsy house within a day.

Advantages of a display case for chinchillas

The main advantages of chinchilla display cases include:

saving space. These structures are often placed along a wall, opening up a lot of space for mobile play, but take up less space than cages;
Aesthetics. Such designs have a neat appearance and fit harmoniously into the space around them;
opportunity to watch animals. In such designs, the facades are made of transparent glass, which makes them convenient for observation;
low noise level. Unlike a cage, cages are more enclosed and do not have metal bars that animals like to chew on;
Large interior space to accommodate numerous shelves, racks, ladders and other rodent toys;
No trash and quick cleaning. Unlike an open cage, there will be no food, hay, or other trash that animals often throw out scattered around the cage.

Showcases must be a certain size

How much does it cost to house a chinchilla?

Buying a cage is quite an expensive undertaking. To purchase a standard design you will need from 3 to 5 thousand rubles. Prices for display cages have no limits at all. Even for a modest house for a pet you will have to pay 5-7 thousand. And for a spacious, equipped display case with an interesting design, manufacturers will ask from 20 to 30 thousand.

In order to save money, you can look for a cage or display case for a chinchilla on specialized ad platforms such as Avito or Yula. Former furry owners sell used cages for 2-3 times cheaper.

What materials can you use to make a display case for a chinchilla with your own hands?

You can make a chinchilla with your own hands from various materials:

natural wood. This is the safest and most reliable option. The advantages of wood are environmental friendliness, aesthetics and resistance to negative factors. And to the disadvantages should be added: absorption of unpleasant odors, expensive costs, difficulty in operation;
LDPE. The simplest and cheapest option. LDF is available in a wide range of colors, textures and structures. The material is easy to work with and can be used for the construction of structures of any complexity. One of the disadvantages is that it contains harmful substances. If an animal chews on the material, it can be poisoned;
plexiglass. This option will prevent the absorption of foreign odors, will be characterized by easy cleaning, transparency and a beautiful appearance. Such designs will harmoniously fit into the modern style and become its main decoration. As for the disadvantages, it is the difficulty of cleaning. The glass will have to be constantly wiped with window cleaner and stains removed. In addition, this material scratches quickly and can cause cloudy stains;
from an old closet. The easiest option. Old furniture can be easily and quickly turned into a fairly convenient and comfortable home for rodents. In this case, you will spend a minimum of free time, materials and finances. As a rule, the entire process of creating an apartment for rodents from an old wardrobe consists of making special ventilation holes and dividing the apartment into separate floors.

Materials and tools

Before you make a display case at home, you need to decide on the material for its manufacture. To solve the problem of teeth grinding, it is better to choose a natural material. The tree is safe for your pet's health. However, the overall cost will be significant. You can use laminated chipboard - high quality and inexpensive. It is ideal for the construction of such a structure.

The downside of wood is its ability to absorb all unpleasant odors and moisture. To avoid this, make a display case from a profile or plexiglass. PVC tape is used to cover the cut areas. The most commonly used tools include a hacksaw, a utility knife, a drill, self-tapping screws and screws, and a tape measure. They can be bought at any hardware store. To make the side walls, buy a metal mesh.

From scratch

The first step is to decide where to place the finished display case. To do this, make a sketch indicating the parameters of the future design. You can see what it looks like on the Internet. Then you need to buy the necessary materials at the nearest hardware store. Laminated chipboard is considered an inexpensive material for making a rodent's home. Organic glass or metal mesh are also used. Before construction, a complete drawing should be drawn indicating the exact values of each component. Minimum size 80x80x50 cm.

Step-by-step instructions for making a display case yourself:

The side panels and ceiling are cut from laminated chipboard. A window is cut out in each side. Instead, a metal mesh will be used. Cut pieces of mesh are attached to the walls using self-tapping screws.
The back and side walls are secured to a wooden pallet with tie screws. To do this you need to make small holes with a drill. The walls are attached to each other, and the ceiling is attached.
You can make a special place to store food or toys. It is built in the form of a bedside table attached to the bottom of the structure.
A glass door on metal hinges is attached to the front wall. To prevent the rodent from getting hurt, the glass needs to be treated. Shelves are installed inside.
If bedding is used instead of a tray, it is necessary to build a pull-out tray.

What is a showcase for?

A display case for chinchillas is essential for a comfortable and fun life. Animals feel uncomfortable in cramped enclosures. For protection and maximum comfort, the chinchilla display case should be closed. In its manufacture, various materials can be used (chipboard, natural solid wood, plexiglass).

Naturally, natural wood is considered the best material. It is safe, does not release toxins and is durable. But at the same time, wood absorbs odors and deteriorates due to high humidity. Products made from chipboard and aluminum profiles are considered a good choice. They are more practical, durable and resistant to negative factors.

Important: veterinarians recommend keeping mobile chinchillas in tall buildings with numerous shelves and stairs. It is also necessary to place wooden objects in their home so that the animals can sharpen their teeth on them.

Advantages of a display case for chinchillas

The main advantages of chinchilla display cases include:

saving free space. These structures are often placed along a wall, opening up plenty of space for outdoor play but taking up less space than cages;
aesthetics. Such structures have a neat appearance and fit harmoniously into the environment;
opportunity to watch animals. In such structures, the facades are made of transparent glass, so it is convenient to observe them;
low noise level. Unlike a cage, the windows are more closed and there are no metal bars that animals love to chew;
large internal space for placing many shelves, racks, ladders and other toys for rodents;
lack of debris and cleaning efficiency. Unlike an open cage, food, hay and other trash that animals often scatter around will not be scattered around the display.

Requirements for the showcase

There are requirements for arranging housing for animals. The dimensions of the display case must be no less than:

length - 80 cm;
height - 50 cm;
width - 80 cm.

An animal will fit comfortably in such an area. If you plan to keep two rodents, the area will need to be almost doubled.

Since chinchillas are rodents and tend to taste everything, their home should be made of environmentally friendly and safe materials. An excellent option would be to use natural wood. In addition, when maintaining them, it is worth taking into account temperature and humidity. To ensure that the housing is well illuminated, special lamps are used.

Warning: Before placing an animal in a new home, it is necessary to carefully inspect it for any sharp edges, otherwise the animal may be injured.

Before placing an animal in a house, it must be equipped with toys, a drinking bowl, feeders, a hay barn, game simulators and a sleeping area.

Main types of cells

Cellular structures come in different types. To choose the right one, you need to know their advantages and disadvantages.

Ordinary cell

Standard cages can be found at any pet store. An ordinary cage for a chinchilla costs on average from one and a half to five thousand rubles. There are also more expensive ones, depending on quality and size.

You can choose by price, color, size.
Easy to disassemble and move to another location.
All amenities to maintain hygiene.

Poor sound insulation, given that chinchillas are nocturnal.
The rest of the hay, corn husks and stuffing are scattered around the room.
The plastic parts of the cage are not durable.

Sometimes another drawback appears - the dimensions of the cage cannot always fit inside the room.

Wooden showcase

The showcase is usually made independently from scrap materials or made from plywood, furniture chipboard, or wood.

You can use your unnecessary wardrobe as a basis for free;
excellent sound insulation if the walls are wooden;
place for an animal, you can raise a family;
the ability to adapt the design to the interior of the apartment.

difficult to disinfect;
If cleaning is not done properly, a smell may appear;
non-demountable design;
short service life.

The last drawback can be eliminated if the display case is made of high-quality durable materials.

Professional showcase

An option for a durable product is a model made of aluminum, wood, chipboard, or glass. Such designs are used by professional breeders.

How to make it yourself?

If there is no furniture suitable for transformation, you can make a display case yourself. To ensure the most comfortable working conditions, you will need:

screwdriver;
self-tapping screws of different sizes;
puzzle;
new door hinges;
drill;
drill/swing;
packing tape.

Since it is difficult to guess with dimensions, there are no ready-made drawings “for all occasions” - you will have to make them yourself, measuring the allotted area of the room. As a result, the required amount of material is also selected. This could be a rough sketch for a medium sized room.

Typically the posts are used as legs if the floor of the display case is made of mesh and some space is required between the mesh and the floor to allow for a waste container to be included under the chinchilla mesh.

In addition to simple perforated shelves, the chinchilla display cabinet is also equipped with some accessories. For example, a small house can serve as a pit, that is, a shelter from daylight, which is easy to make based on the size of the display case itself.

It shouldn't be too big or too narrow.

The feeder can be made in the form of a wooden feeder or the same wire mesh, where you will have to put hay or other food.

If your chinchilla is limited in physical activity, it will quickly gain weight. Therefore, the so-called city will be very appropriate. It must at a minimum consist of:

racing steering wheel;
multi-level racks connected by transitions in the form of a suspension bridge, tunnel or staircase;
swing/hammock.

Where does the rodent live?

Through experimentation, experts came to the conclusion that the optimal habitat for this rodent would be a special display cage. Such display cases can be found in specialized stores, but if a person who wants to have a chinchilla in the house has certain blacksmithing and carpentry skills, he can save a lot of money by making this place for the future pet to live with his own hands. Let's try to figure out what a showcase is and how it differs from a regular cell?

Imagine your grandmother's sideboard, or rather its upper part. This is a cabinet with doors at the bottom and glass shelves at the top, always behind glass doors that can be made sliding or opening. This top is a showcase. For a chinchilla, the shelves can be made from plywood, and the glass doors can be replaced with fiberglass or something similar, as long as light gets through.

It must be said that a chinchilla will be much more comfortable in a display case than in a cage, and there are many reasons for this.

The showcase is more spacious than the cage.
The cage is made of twigs, there is nowhere to hide, and the chinchilla needs a closed den. Showcases are optimally adapted for this purpose - the owner can improvise quite freely with closed areas.
There is more space in a display case than in a cage, because it can be made to any depth.
Various natural materials from which the owner can build a display case will suit the rodent more than metal rods. Chinchillas prefer secluded places where they can hide if necessary, and if they are wooden, this is normal.
A rodent located behind the glass of a display case creates less noise and bothers the owners less.
It is not difficult to remove it from the display case if there are several doors in the front wall.
If debris is constantly flying out of the cage through the bars, a solid wall will avoid this unpleasant feature, and will also provide access to each “floor” of the display case; cleaning will not take much time.
The display case can be “camouflaged” if it is made of materials that match the color of the furniture.
If you equip the display case with wheels, it can be moved from room to room to create an acceptable temperature regime for the rodent and not overheat it. It should not be forgotten that temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius can cause heatstroke in chinchillas, as these animals originate from the high Andes mountains of the South American continent.

Having come to the conclusion that a showcase will be the most convenient habitat for a chinchilla, it is worth paying attention to the fact that you can make a showcase with your own hands from wood, aluminum profiles and plastic structures. There are a number of requirements for the manufacture of display cases:

the smallest space for a chinchilla should be at least 800x800x500 mm;
when keeping more individuals, the size increases and multiplies;
the materials from which the display case is made must be sufficiently durable and safe, since rodents tend to try them “on their teeth”;
the display case should be dry, warm, well (but not excessively) lit and have good ventilation;
During the production process, it is necessary to remove sharp edges and protruding corners of the panels, which can lead to accidental injury to the animal.

We offer you the opportunity to get acquainted with a wooden craft with your own hands. This is one of the most important requirements for display cases of this type, so that the animal does not feel cramped. Chinchillas require at least 0.4 m2 per person. In addition, this area does not depend on either the length or the width of the display case: both can be changed at will or in accordance with the size of the apartment.

Why is it often recommended to use old cabinet frames as a base? The point is practicality and ease of remodeling: you will have to put in a minimum of effort to turn it into a showcase. Although a certain danger to the animal may lie precisely in the material from which the wardrobe is made.

Here are step-by-step instructions for assembling a cabinet display cabinet.

We remove the doors.
If there are shelves, cut holes in them. Chinchillas will need this to transition between tiers.
If there are no shelves, there is room for imagination - the shelves can be placed in any order.
The material for the shelves must be natural wood, since chinchillas prefer to “try” horizontal surfaces: gnawing on a vertical wall is less comfortable.
It will be necessary to make ventilation holes in the upper part of the mobile case so that air masses can circulate freely inside the display case.
Don't forget to cover these holes with wire mesh - this chinchilla won't even try to chew.
The removed doors are replaced with a metal mesh stretched over the frame, or made of transparent material. Most experts recommend networking.
To carry out work on the manufacture of such a frame, it is recommended to take the same removed “original” doors and replace the panels with a mesh, leaving an outer door frame about 100 mm wide for attaching the mesh.
It’s very good if the cabinet design initially included lower drawers. This will make the conversion even less energy-intensive: only in the next step will you have to remove the floor of the main part of the cabinet and replace it with a fine mesh, under which it is easy to place a container where excrement and debris will fall. This will make the cleaning process much easier.

Pros and cons of products

We have already looked at the main types of cells. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages for the breeder and the animal. Let us consider separately the pros and cons for all types of cells. They will come in handy when choosing between a homemade and purchased option, plus when selecting a suitable cage model in a store.

Metal cage

Among the advantages of this choice, we have already noted affordable prices with the house included in the kit. What else relates to the positive features of metal cages:

However, nothing is perfect. Such housing for a pet also has a number of disadvantages:

Despite all the advantages of metal compared to other materials, it does not tend to suppress noise. On the contrary, when a domestic rodent moves around the cage, it will begin to rattle against the metal bars. This is especially unpleasant if the chinchilla lives in the bedroom or study;
the second negative difference is that the floor consists of a mesh, even a fine and durable one. This does not prevent various debris from passing through the cells and then ending up on the floor in the room. Consequently, you will need to clean the room more often;
and the third, completely fixable feature is plastic or, less often, metal shelves inside the cage, which is not convenient for the animal. Instead, it is recommended to install wooden shelves.

Display cage

This type of cage is made primarily from wood. The products look more attractive than their metal counterparts, plus they are much more popular with rodents. No wonder. Let's consider all the advantages of wooden showcases:

natural eco-friendly material, familiar to animals;
rodents can always sharpen their teeth on wood;
the cost of such a cage will not hit the owner’s wallet.

Let's pay attention to the other side of the coin. What problems might you encounter?

Wood absorbs moisture and odors well. As a result, over time, the smell inside the display case will become too specific and pungent.
Aggressive disinfection of a wooden display case for a chinchilla is also not allowed. The disinfectant will remain on the wood. Later, when the animal tries to sharpen its teeth on it, the poison can enter the chinchilla’s body and kill it.

The manifestation of imperfections can be reduced with the help of special models of display cases that use combined materials with special processing. However, you will need to monitor changes in price. Or use an alternative option - showcases from the profile. They are more reliable and convenient.

Advice! Before buying a ready-made display case, you need to check its quality. In addition to a strong frame, glass and mesh must be firmly installed in it so that the chinchillas cannot escape from the cage. Otherwise they may get hurt.

Homemade cells

Let's move on to the last of the proposed product types. Their main advantage is the ability to use old furniture or, in principle, limit ourselves to the minimum available materials. Another plus is that such a home will be original and, if necessary, can be safely thrown away. The only significant drawback of this approach is that if the owner does not have sufficient skills, he will need more time to work. Or the result will not live up to expectations.

Cage requirements

A chinchilla cannot be placed in the first cage that comes along. Representatives of this family of rodents are very demanding in terms of living conditions. Therefore, when purchasing a cage, there are several key points to consider.

Dimensions

Chinchillas are very active animals. They have powerful hind legs, with which they can easily jump and climb vertical surfaces. Therefore, the fluffy will need spacious housing. The optimal cage size for keeping one chinchilla is considered to be 25x30x80 cm. If you plan to buy 2 chinchillas at once, then these parameters are accordingly increased by 2 times.

To prevent your pet from feeling cramped, it is better to buy a two- or three-tier cage. In nature, chinchillas live in highlands, so they will like the presence of upper floors.

Material

Currently, in pet stores you can find cages for rodents made of wood, plastic and metal. Experienced breeders recommend choosing the latter option. This is explained by the presence of several significant advantages in metal structures:

metal is an absolutely safe material because it does not release toxic compounds into the air;
metal structures are the most durable - they can withstand even the strong teeth of a chinchilla;
metal does not absorb odors at all;

In addition, metal structures are very easy to care for. Any dirt can be easily removed from their surface. Therefore, washing the cage usually takes no more than 15-20 minutes.

Other

In addition to the size and material of manufacture, there are additional requirements for a cage for keeping a chinchilla. For example:

It is better to choose a design with a pull-out tray . This will allow you to replace the filler in literally 5 minutes, without disturbing your pet.
The distance between the cage rods should not exceed 2 cm . The chinchilla skeleton easily compresses, stretching in a vertical direction. Therefore, with wider gaps, the probability of escape is high.
The cage must be well ventilated . Only the bottom and/or back wall can be solid. Chinchillas do not tolerate stuffiness and high temperatures very well. Therefore, nothing should interfere with intensive air circulation.
The entrance to the cage should be spacious enough so that the owner’s hand with the pet sitting on it can easily pass through it.

Also, the chinchilla's cage must be safe. Before letting the animal inside, you need to make sure that there are no broken or protruding rods or other sharp interior elements.

Dimensions

As mentioned above, size is important. How comfortable the animal will be depends on it; its health directly depends on it.

For one animal

It is advisable to choose a cage with dimensions of 80x80x50 cm. With such dimensions the pet will not feel cramped. But still, acquiring a more spacious living space will only be a plus.

For two chinchillas

The size of the cage must be at least 140x140x80cm.

For breeding

The size of the cage should be much larger than normal. Such farmer cells are an amalgamation of smaller cells. It is desirable that each such cell be 50x50x40 cm in size. It is necessary to build a corridor between them so that the male can calmly pass to the females. At the same time, isolate the females from each other. This can be done by putting special plastic collars on the females.

Main varieties

When looking for a home for your pet, you can find different variations of cages. They differ in appearance, price and quality.

Let's look at the most common options.

From metal rods

This is the most common and very budget option. At the bottom of such a cage there is usually a tray with sawdust, which is easy to clean. It is easy to attach the necessary accessories for your pet to the mesh. But this design does not dampen noise at all; any movement in it will make sound.

Display cage

The material usually used is wood, although other models are also available. Such a cage is a real work of art and the pet becomes part of this composition. It will easily fit into the interior and complement it.

From old furniture

Masters can give a second life to any item. Unnecessary furniture in their hands turns into a beautiful display cage.

For breeding chinchillas

This design is a metal cage divided into several sections, each of which houses a pet.